MLB.com Twins beat reporter Rhett Bollinger keeps you up to date on all Twins news

Game 3: Gardenhire shakes up bottom of order

BALTIMORE — The Twins generally like to give everyone on their roster an opportunity to get playing time early in the season, and so there are two new faces in today’s lineup against the Orioles.

Sean Burroughs is getting the start at third base over Danny Valencia, while Luke Hughes, who is coming off a huge spring, gets the start at second instead of Alexi Casilla.

Joe Mauer is also getting his first start at first base, as Ryan Doumit is set to catch right-hander Anthony Swarzak. Swarzak, who posted a 4.32 ERA in 102 innings last year, is starting with Liam Hendriks out with food poisoning.

We’ll find out more about the decision to start Burroughs and Hughes from Ron Gardenhire later this morning.

Update: Gardenhire said the moves were done simply to get Burroughs and Hughes some playing time. He did say Valencia is continuing to work on his defense, but that wasn’t the reason why Burroughs made the start at third. Hughes also could get starts against lefties moving forward. Trevor Plouffe should be in the starting lineup tomorrow with Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson on the mound.

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